Roundabout.



"JI-"HiG-ROWB;

1 ROUNDABOUT. APPLICATION FILED MAR! 26, 1912.

1 65,783. Patented June 24,1913.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

awuemto'a COLUMBIA PMNDGRAPH 60.,WA5H1NOTON n c UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

JAMES H. CROWE, OF CLEVELAND, TENNESSEE.

ROUNDABOU'I.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JAMES H. CROWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Bradley and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Roundabouts, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to certain novel improvements in roundabouts.

In carrying out my invention it is my purpose to provide a carousel or roundabout which may be positioned within or withoutdoors, the same being simple and inexpensive in construction and which is adapted to be operated by and afford beneficial exercise and pleasure to one or more children.

I also aim toprovide a roundabout comprising a revoluble frame having a plurality of carriages whereby one or more children are enabled to revolve the wheels of the carriage to propel the carriage or carriages in the path of a circle and which will thus provide healthful exercise as well as safe amuse ment for a child or children.

WVith the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter set forth in the specification and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

For the purpose of explaining the invention the accompanying drawings illustrate a satisfactory reduction of the device to practice but the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood that the invention is not limited t the specific arrangement and organization shown and described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an amusement device constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal view taken through one of the carriages. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken through the central standard. Fig. 4: is a sectional view illustrating. the manner of securing the arms to the standard. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail side elevation of a portion of one of the carriages, illustrating the manner in which the axle hearing may be adjusted longitudinally of the frame of the carriage.

My improved amusement device may be employed upon lawns, parks or in the rooms of a building as desired. When the device is employed out of doors it has been found Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 26, 1912.

Patented June 24, 1913. Serial No. 686,279.

preferable to provide a central track upon which the wheels of the carriages forming part of this device travel. This track may be of any desired formation, and it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate the same in the drawings.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a standard, the same being provided with a central bore 2 for the reception of a pintle 3 which is connected to an annular head 4c. If, desired, and in some instances it has been found preferable both the upper face of the standard 1 and the lower face of the head 4 are formed or otherwise provided with annular ways for the reception of anti-frictional balls. The stem or pintle 3 may if desired have its lower extremity threaded, and the lower portion of the stem may be provided with an enlarged opening which communicates with the bore 2, the threaded portion of the stem projecting within this opening and being adapted to receive a nut or other securing devices. The standard 1, is secured to the floor of a building in any desired manner and when the device is employed in a park or without doors the standard is preferably secured to a post which is embedded within the ground. The head 4 is adapted to receive a plurality of radially disposed arms 5, and arranged upon the said head and interposed between the radial arms 5, are beveled'blocks 6, the latter properly spacing the said arms. The numeral 7 designates a cap which is positioned above the arms and the beveled blocks, and the said cap is adapted to be secured through the medium of screws or the like to both the arms and the head as well as with the beveled blocks. These blocks 6 are wedged tightly against the opposite sides of the radial arms 5, so that the said arms are sustained tightly upon the standard and extend therefrom at a proper angle.

The numeral 8 designates the carriages for the device. Each of these carriages comprises a rectangular frame 9, and two of the radial arms 5 are secured in any desired manner to the under faces of each of the said frames 9. The longitudinally ex tending side members of each of the frames are provided with bearing members 10, the same comprising suitable blocks having centrally arranged downwardly extending spaced ears 11. The upper portion of the blocks, or that extending in the opposite direction away from the ears 11 are provided with suitable openings for the reception of securing elements 12. The securing elements are removable, and the block preferably has its upper face formed with a transversely arranged V-shaped extension 13, the latter adapted to be received within any of the plurality of V-shaped depressions 14 provided upon the longitudinal members of the rectangular frame 9. By this arrangement it will be noted that the bearing mem bers or blocks may be adjusted toward either the front or the rear of the frame. Arranged between the ears 11 of the blocks 10 is a transversely arranged axle 15, the same being sustained in position upon its bearings through the medium of suitable cotter pins 16 which pass through openings provided in the oppositely arranged ears of each of the bearings 10. Rigidly secured upon each of the axles 15 is a wheel 17 the same being disposed centrally of the rectangular frame 9, and the axles 15 is adapted to be extended a suitable distance beyond its outer bearing, the said extending portion being bent to provide a crank 18. Pivotally connected with the end of the crank 18 is a link 19, the same extending toward the front of the frame, and the said link is pivotally secured to the lower depending portion 20 of the operating lever 21. The lever 21 is mounted in suitable bearings 22 provided upon the longitudinal side members of the rectangular frame 9. The lever has its upper extremity provided with transversely arranged handles 23, the same being arranged within easy reach of the occupant of the carriage.

The numerals 24L designate uprights which are secured to the longitudinal members of the frame, these up-rights are preferably four in number, and the said uprights are adapted to support a seat 25. The said seat 25 is, of course, positioned above the wheel 17, and connected with the forward end of each of the seats is a guard 26, the same adapted to protect the clothing of the occupant of the seat from cont-acting with the wheel.

The numeral 27 designates a foot rest which is secured to the forward portion of the rectangular frame of the carriage and which extends a suitable distance beyond each side of the said carriage.

As illustrated in the drawings four carriages, as above described, are employed, but

it is obvious that this number may be added to or subtracted from as desired, and in order to securely connect the said carriages I employ tie bars 28, each of the said tie bars being secured to the front of one of the carriages and to the rear of the nextcarriage. The tie barsrelieve the strainof the radial arms and at the same time prevent any wabbling of the carriages when one 1 occupant attempts to propel his vehicle at a greater rate of speed than the occupants of the remaining carriages. It is my purpose to also provide each of the carriages with rear supports, the same comprising depending members 29 which are connected with the rear of the said carriages. The depending portions 29 are formed upon their under faces with depressions or holes which are adapted to receive the spindles of caster frames, which latter are provided with caster wheels 30.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is In a roundabout, the combination with a central post with a revoluble member and a plurality of arms connected to and radiating from the said member, of carriages se cured to each part of said radiating arms, each of the said carriages embodying spaced longitudinal bars having their underfaces formed with l-shaped' depressions, a bearing member having its upper face formed with a V-shaped extension adapted to be received within one of the V-shaped depressions, means for securing the bearing member upon the side bars of the carriage, each of the bearing members being bifurcated to provide a pair of downwardly extending spaced ears, an axle passing between the ears, a wheel connected with the axle, cotter pins for sustaining the axle between the ears, means connected with the carriage for revolving the axle and wheel, and each of the said carriages having its rear portion provided with a depending member having a caster wheel, and bars for connecting the front of one of the carriages to the rear of the adjacent carriage.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. CROWE.

Witnesses WV, C. GANNAWAY, S. P. WooDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. 7 Washington, 13.0. i 

